Skip to main content
Malta365
religiousEvent

Holy Week and Easter in Malta

Good Friday processions and Easter morning in Malta and Gozo

When2027: Palm Sunday 21 March, Good Friday 26 March (public holiday), Easter Sunday 28 March. Easter moves every year, falling between late March and late April. Procession times are published by each parish shortly before Holy Week.
WhereValletta and parishes across Malta and Gozo, Valletta and the Grand Harbour
CostAs of November 2026: free to watch the processions
FrequencyAnnual
Type
Religious
When
March
Duration
8 days
Location
Valletta and parishes across Malta and Gozo
Cost
As of November 2026: free to watch the processions
Frequency
Annual
Attendance
Processions draw large local crowds, especially on Good Friday evening
Family friendly
Yes
First held
Centuries-old Catholic tradition; each parish keeps its own processional statues
Local name
Il-Gimgha Mqaddsa (Holy Week) and l-Ghid (Easter)
Best arrival
Half an hour before your chosen parish's Good Friday procession, usually late afternoon
What to wear
Modest clothing with shoulders and knees covered; a light jacket for evening
Food highlights
Figolli, almond-filled Easter biscuitsKwarezimal, Lenten spiced biscuitsQaghaq tal-Appostli, Apostles' bread rings
Warnings
Keep a respectful distance from the processionSome shops close on Good FridayEaster moves each year, so confirm dates
What to bring
A light jacketWaterA camera without flashCash for Easter sweets
The overview

Holy Week and Easter in Malta

Holy Week is the most solemn stretch of the Maltese calendar, and one of the most striking for visitors. In 2027 it runs from Palm Sunday on 21 March to Easter Sunday on 28 March, with Good Friday, a public holiday, on 26 March. The Archdiocese of Malta notes that Good Friday processions are held in many localities on both islands.

Each parish procession carries a series of life-size statues depicting the Passion, accompanied by participants in biblical costume, hooded penitents and funeral marches played by the local band. Processions generally set out in the late afternoon or early evening. Towns with established Good Friday processions include Valletta, Birgu, Senglea and Bormla in the Three Cities, Rabat (see Mdina and Rabat), Mosta, Qormi and Zejtun, and on Gozo Victoria, Nadur and Xaghra.

Before and after Good Friday

On Maundy Thursday many people visit seven churches in turn to see the decorated altars of repose. On Easter Sunday the mood flips: parishes carry a statue of the Risen Christ through the streets, often in the morning, with bells and band marches. Bakeries sell figolli, almond-filled Easter biscuits cut into shapes, and during Lent you will find kwarezimal, a spiced Lenten biscuit.

  • Each parish publishes its own times; check the parish or diocese announcements in the week before.
  • Dress respectfully if you go inside churches, with shoulders and knees covered.
  • Expect road closures along procession routes and busy buses on Good Friday evening.

Late March is mild and good for walking. Combine the week with sightseeing at St John's Co-Cathedral and our best time to visit Malta guide.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

When is Easter 2027 in Malta?

+
Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027. Good Friday, a public holiday with the main processions, is on 26 March, and Palm Sunday on 21 March.

Where are the best Good Friday processions?

+
Many parishes hold one. Established processions include Valletta, Birgu, Senglea, Bormla, Rabat, Mosta, Qormi and Zejtun on Malta, and Victoria, Nadur and Xaghra on Gozo.

What time do the processions start?

+
Most Good Friday processions set out in the late afternoon or early evening. Each parish sets its own time, so check announcements in the week before.

What happens on Easter Sunday?

+
The mood turns joyful. Many parishes carry a statue of the Risen Christ through the streets, often in the morning, and families share figolli, almond-filled Easter biscuits.

Is there a dress code?

+
Watching from the street needs nothing special. If you enter a church, cover your shoulders and knees, and keep a respectful distance from the procession.
Plan your visit

Holy Week and Easter in Malta

When
2027: Palm Sunday 21 March, Good Friday 26 March (public holiday), Easter Sunday 28 March. Easter moves every year, falling between late March and late April. Procession times are published by each parish shortly before Holy Week.
Duration: 8 days
Location
Parish churches and processional routes across the islands, Valletta and parishes across Malta and Gozo
Valletta and the Grand Harbour
Cost
Free
This event is in Valletta →